Time allowed for LOR writers

[hippyscientist]

My letter writers are scattered around the globe at 3 different institutions and I was just wondering when to ask them to write my letter. My first deadline for applications is the 1st November so I really need them in on time. One writer is making me nervous as he's a habit of not being the most punctual and has let me down in the past - but he's my major research supervisor for my undergrad thesis and was the lead researcher on my research assistant job. I guess I just want clarification that if I send all my details to them by the end of this week that gives them 3 weeks to write the letter and that should be sufficient time? Thanks in advance

[rising_star]

For November 1, you should have already asked and it should already be on their to-do list. I have a long to-do list, which I prioritize by deadline. If there's someone that has missed deadlines in the past, you can fudge and give them an earlier deadline potentially, just so that they can get it in later. I don't always recommend this but, in your case, it might be a good idea. 

[nyshopgirl14]

I don't really have any advice when it comes to this, except to echo what rising_star said, but I did want to sympathize. My first deadline is Dec. 1 and it's my top choice, so I'm really anxious about my academic LOR from a former professor. She also wrote a rec for me for my master's degree, but she was late turning it in, and her communication this time around hasn't been stellar, so I'm a bit nervous about this first deadline. But I'm realizing you can only do what you can and let the process take its course. Worse case scenario, the admissions committee won't see your recommender's flakiness as a flaw on your part.

[hippyscientist]

Thank you for your responses, I have already asked two of them, and they have all the pertinent information. I just wanted to check I was on the right track. I have an issue with my third recommender as he's at the university where I've just started my masters, and I've only been here 2 weeks. I've done my best to get on his radar and have organised some time to talk about the university where he got his PhD (which is my top choice), but I'm apprehensive as he hasn't known me long, doesn't know much about my work but can vouch for the fact I'm doing my masters and will have a high research component for it. It's a tricky one to know when to ask him. I admit this is probably a fairly unique situation but AGH the whole LOR thing is doing my head in!

[stillalivetui]

Thank you for your responses, I have already asked two of them, and they have all the pertinent information. I just wanted to check I was on the right track. I have an issue with my third recommender as he's at the university where I've just started my masters, and I've only been here 2 weeks. I've done my best to get on his radar and have organised some time to talk about the university where he got his PhD (which is my top choice), but I'm apprehensive as he hasn't known me long, doesn't know much about my work but can vouch for the fact I'm doing my masters and will have a high research component for it. It's a tricky one to know when to ask him. I admit this is probably a fairly unique situation but AGH the whole LOR thing is doing my head in!

I don't think you should ask him to submit a LOR if you've only been at the school and known him for 2 weeks. He won't know you or your work well enough from now until December. You want a quality recommendation, not a lukewarm one. 

[nanokid]

Thank you for your responses, I have already asked two of them, and they have all the pertinent information. I just wanted to check I was on the right track. I have an issue with my third recommender as he's at the university where I've just started my masters, and I've only been here 2 weeks. I've done my best to get on his radar and have organised some time to talk about the university where he got his PhD (which is my top choice), but I'm apprehensive as he hasn't known me long, doesn't know much about my work but can vouch for the fact I'm doing my masters and will have a high research component for it. It's a tricky one to know when to ask him. I admit this is probably a fairly unique situation but AGH the whole LOR thing is doing my head in!

Don't overestimate the importance of LORs- it's just 1 out of 3 and there are so many other components to your application. A lot of LORs are boring and "standard procedure" anyway (it's not your fault, it's just that not everyone has time to write you a great one- schools understand that), so they all don't need to be amazing. More importantly, I hope this recommender has strong credentials himself, and that is where his value lies. I wouldn't fret too much about the quality of the recommendation since you've known him for 2 weeks (how would the admissions committee know that unless he mentioned it himself- my guess is he won't), but it still shouldn't be too hard for you to get him to write a letter that will capture the right snapshot of you. Outline clearly in the email that you would like him to talk about your passion, capability, and track record in research. As someone mentioned earlier, give him a deadline of 2 weeks before actual deadline. 

For the record, my most important recommendation came in on the day of the deadline because I gave him the actual deadline date. It required an emergency phone call, but it was taken care of nevertheless

[rising_star]

Honestly, late LORs aren't typically the kiss of death for an application. They happen all the time, to be honest.

[hippyscientist]

I don't think you should ask him to submit a LOR if you've only been at the school and known him for 2 weeks. He won't know you or your work well enough from now until December. You want a quality recommendation, not a lukewarm one. 

I wouldn't be asking, except the application explicitly asks for a reference from your most recent school. Also he graduated from my top choice and has a lot of links there so it helps from that perspective. 

I think the reason I'm so concerned is I was told by multiple POIs when I visited that they don't really care about the rest of my application as long as my LORs are good. Obviously, the rest of my application has had a lot of work put into it, but this is the one part outside of my control (I'm not too good at relinquishing that). 

Thank you for all your replies - it's been really helpful.